LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) released the findings of its investigation into the 12 horse deaths at Churchill Downs earlier this year.

What You Need To Know

  • Between April and May, 12 horses died at Churchill Downs

  • Shortly after, Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) opened an investigation

  • They found no single cause or factor that led to the 12 deaths

  • HISA also laid out plans to increase safety at all race tracks

HISA’s investigation found no causal relationship between the track surface and fatalities, and no pattern of medical histories or injury profiles that pointed to a single cause for the deaths.

This year’s Spring Meet at Churchill Downs was marred with a dozen on-track horse deaths. The meet finished out at Ellis Park in Henderson while HISA tried to identify what happened. 

“Horses dying is not okay. No one here thinks it’s okay, and we are going to do better as an industry, and I think we’ve made a very significant step forward today,” Lisa Lazarus, CEO of HISA said Tuesday.

The month’s long report investigated multiple factors that could have caused the deaths, including the track surface — where the death happened — and type of injury.

None of the 12 horses tested positive for any prohibited substances either.

“Even though one factor would have been easier, the fact that we do have so many uses to look at, give us the opportunity to say, okay, this needs to be a really comprehensive review,” Lazarus said. “Nothing’s off the table and no stakeholder group can decline to participate.”

On Tuesday, HISA also released six recommendation areas to improve equine safety. 

They include forming a dedicated team of experts to investigate track surfaces, requiring tracks to report all equine deaths, including during training and expanding access to veterinary screening procedures. 

It’s something Lazarus says will help the industry move closer to a point where there are zero on track deaths. 

“I believe that if the industry works together and we get behind these initiatives, genuinely with true commitment and manpower and womanpower, that we absolutely can achieve it,” Lazarus said.

The new HISA recommendations would be enforceable once they are approved by the Federal Trade Commission. 

Lazarus adds if several unexplained horse deaths happen, racing could be re-suspended. The September Meet at Churchill Downs begins Thursday, Sept.  14.

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